Nerdspeak

 I own a poster for a movie called Revenge of the Jedi. 

That is what the movie was called before kinder, gentler voices in George Lucas' head suggested that "revenge" was a dish best served cold and everyone knows how much the Jedi enjoy a hot meal, so the voices and George decided to rename it Return of the Jedi. The nerdy voice inside my own head feels compelled to remind you all that I also own that poster, and that eventually George got around to making his Revenge picture, this time it was the Sith who did the revenging. It's what Sith are known for. That, and their snappy black wardrobe. 

All of which is a prelude to discuss, initially, this right wing outburst about how Anakin Skywalker nee Darth Vader was a young man who was turned away from his calling by  older generations and institutions they believe have denied young men opportunities and recognition. Elongated Mush, writing from his mother's basement, posted a picture of "what they stole from us," which was an imagined alternate ending in which Anakin and Padme had "triumphed" and become the emperor and empress of the galaxy, decked out in the appropriate goth drag, surrounded by stormtroopers. At their feet, two young children who might once have grown up to Luke and Leia, the saviors of the old Republic. 

It takes some pretty twisted beans to wrangle that outcome out of the Star Wars saga, but no one would suggest that Elno, or Katie Miller for that matter, would be able to untangle the subtleties of the message presented in the "prequels," but let me try and run that down for those of you out of the nerdy loop (from a fellow nerd on Reddit): "Childhood trauma left him susceptible to fear, particularly of losing loved ones. Palpatine expertly manipulated these fears, corrupting Anakin's values with promises of power. Torn between Jedi ideals and his own desires, Anakin ultimately succumbed to the dark side, his transformation to Vader complete when he chose power over principles in a misguided attempt to save those he loved."

It is not, as we know, "the end of the story." Eventually, the old Republic rises again to ensure that freedom and justice prevails. Luke and Leia assured that, and they didn't do it by lounging comfortably at the feet of Darthy and Padme. They suffered their own losses and chose a different path. Not one of black and red, but one of blue.

You might see where this is going. 

The Democratic wave that swept through the midterms is the Return of the Jedi. It is not a wave of Revenge. It should, however, be one of retribution. Revenge is personal, emotional, and unauthorized, whereas retribution is impersonal, structured, and morally or legally justified. That is where we find ourselves on the Star Wars timeline. I agree with those who call for restraint when it comes time to exercise justice, no matter how tempting it might be to fall to the dark side. We can achieve our goals without surrendering our moral center. 

In a world of Darth, be a Luke or Leia.